Corporate Learning: Trends in 2023

Corporate learning continues to evolve dynamically. Our blog post shows what really matters in 2023 and what is important for companies. The benefits of e-learning in companies are manifold and have tangible and intangible implications.

Lifelong learning is also a focus in companies. People want and need to continuously educate themselves in order to keep up with developments in the economy and society and to continuously develop their competencies. Corporate learning therefore refers to an organization's ability to acquire, apply and share knowledge in order to explore new solutions and use them to improve efficiency and competitive advantage. While "learning" is a term some companies use to refer to their training department, corporate learning encompasses a much broader term that refers to a company-wide learning culture in which both the company and its employees are constantly learning and adapting.

Peter Ferdinand Drucker, a U.S. economist of Austrian origin and a pioneer of modern management theory, has highlighted that the extraordinary ability of humans to adapt, learn, and apply what they have learned has proven to be a true competitive advantage of humanity over all other species and has led to our current dominance on Earth. More recently, studies such as Accenture's have found that companies that focus on high-performance learning achieve better revenue and profit growth than their competitors and industry peers that are less learning-focused.

As corporate learning continues to evolve, it's important to know the trends for 2023. Corporate learning is all about growth and change, so it's logical that this sector is constantly adapting to new technologies and teaching methods. This allows companies to make the right decisions for implementation and development.

One of the biggest challenges in corporate learning is finding relevant, interactive content that makes information more memorable. For example, with the help of a partner, companies can build a knowledge library of company-specific content to facilitate learning. The range of applicable formats is wide. Videos can be used for instruction or to enrich an otherwise monotonous lecture. A 2021 TechSmith Video Viewer Study found that 83 percent of respondents prefer the video format for consuming instructional or informational content. Video conferencing tools will be used by 78 percent of organizations in 2022, according to a GetVoIP report. Micro learning, which is the delivery of small-scale information used to solve specific problems, quizzes to better test learning and deepen understanding, and situational questions that help learners work through a scenario with branching answers, are also typical formats in corporate learning.

According to a recent report, personalized learning is among the top motivators for learning. Personalized learning describes a teaching and learning practice in the wake of the new learning culture that is geared to the individual. Learning is oriented around the individual, their prior knowledge, experiences, and interests. One way to make content more effective is to provide personalized, relevant data to learners as they progress. It guides them along learning paths specific to their interests. Learners can learn at their own pace and with the information they want. Chatbots and AI recommendations make this process even easier by using algorithms to disseminate information as needed.

Standard (off-the-shelf) training courses are pre-built content that organizations can integrate directly into your existing development program. Unlike custom content you create yourself, pre-built courses are ready to use out of the box. Whether it's a small company without a training department or a large organization with many dedicated resources: Off-the-shelf solutions can significantly support corporate learning. It just comes down to companies knowing when and how to best use standard training. Off-the-shelf courses provide immediate access to critical information. As a result, these courses are expected to become increasingly popular due to their lower cost.

Hybrid learning (also known as blended learning) has become established at the latest with the COVID 19 pandemic. This e-learning trend refers to a form of electronic learning in which online components are used for teaching and learning. The goal is to replace classroom instruction with a combination of different teaching methods. This means that virtual and face-to-face instruction are combined, meaning that teachers teach both in person and online. Hybrid learning uses e-learning tools, including micro learning, intelligent content creation, video-based learning, game-based learning, interactive content, social learning, and adaptive learning. Hybrid learning also uses learning management systems that provide a platform for interaction and learning continuity. In addition, learning content creation tools are used to support and empower the learner. What this means is that in today's increasingly digital landscape, blended learning offers the best of both worlds: the physical and the virtual classroom. Companies can supplement their in-person training programs with online modules that employees can complete from anywhere they have an Internet connection. This approach to training promotes self-directed learning and ongoing education.

Edutainment is one of the most important factors of all in corporate learning. Edutainment is a combination of the terms "education" and "entertainment" and describes the entertaining transfer of knowledge with the help of new and digital media. It therefore refers to the process of entertaining people and teaching them something at the same time, and the products that serve this goal. Edutainment is closely linked to storytelling. This is a storytelling method used to pass on explicit, but above all implicit, knowledge in the form of leitmotifs, symbols, metaphors or other means of rhetoric. A vividly told story gains the attention and concentration of others more easily than a logical, factual presentation of facts. Examples include mythological tales and legends of heroic journeys and adventures, as well as fables and other literary forms designed to convey knowledge in an attractive way.

Scenario-based learning (SBL) uses interactive scenarios to support active learning strategies such as problem-based or case-based learning. Typically, learners work their way through a story, usually based on an unstructured or complex problem they must solve. Scenario-based learning uses graphics, video and virtual interaction to simulate common work scenarios so employees can practice solving problems. For example, companies can train team members in fire safety by creating an interactive exercise so they get a feel for what to do in a stressful situation. Involving employees in a contextual environment better prepares them for when these situations arise in their day-to-day work. It also helps them approach stressful situations with more calm and confidence.

Companies should embrace corporate learning trends to continuously evolve their internal digital learning and incorporate new ideas. Learning support is important in this process. It is no longer enough to say "Here's an e-learning, please do it, thank you!". It's about more emotion and staging of content, especially for topics that are not popular but important. The point of learning is being redefined: awareness and learning don't just work at the desk or on the computer via the Learning Management System (LMS). Points of learning can be set anywhere in the organization. So it's a matter of developing smart campaigns with diverse formats that reach employees at different points. For example, this could be surveys on screens in the company to increase awareness of certain topics. And last but not least, companies should ask themselves: What do employees want to be informed about? This is a change of direction towards employee-centric corporate learning structures.

The benefits of successful corporate learning campaigns are far-reaching. Continuing education is good for a company's bottom line. It helps keep up with changing industry trends, can reduce turnover rates, and boosts employee potential. In LinkedIn's 2021 Workplace Learning Report, 82 percent of learning and development (L&D) professionals agreed that engaged learners are more likely to find a new role within the company. Other benefits of corporate digital learning include cost efficiency, support for self-directed learning, adaptability, accessibility and support for continuous learning and better consistency of training, greater flexibility, and the ability to reach both on-site and off-site employees. As a result, corporate learning offers tangible and intangible benefits that companies can leverage in 2023 and beyond.